Discussion about Rada resolution on local elections does not allow moving on to resolving other issues of TCG – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office
Discussion of the conditions for holding local elections in Ukraine did not allow the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) at a meeting on Wednesday, September 16, to move on to making decisions on other issues, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the TCG, Ambassador Heidi Grau said.
"The discussion of the political working group was mainly devoted to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine resolution No. 795-IX [on the calling of the regular local elections in 2020], which again did not allow discussing issues on the agenda aimed at the implementation of the Minsk agreements," according to a press release circulated on Thursday morning.
Grau said that the ceasefire in the Joint Force Operation (JFO) area of operation continues to make the civilian population feel safer.
She said that the TCG meeting participants agreed that after almost two months from the date of the entry into force of the measures to strengthen the ceasefire regime, it is necessary to conduct a thorough study of various aspects of their functioning. Assessment of the general security situation in the conflict zone and observance of the ceasefire were the focus of the discussions of the working group on security at the meeting.
The working group on humanitarian issues, with the participation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), discussed the committee's access to conflict-related detainees, as well as issues of mutual release and exchange of detainees.
In addition, the participants in the meeting provided information on the preparations for the simultaneous opening of two new entry-exit checkpoints in the settlements of Zolote and Schastia of Luhansk region.
The economic working group considered issues related to the return of Ukrzaliznytsia vagons located in the territory not controlled by the government of Ukraine.
In addition, they discussed issues of water supply across the contact line in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as environmental problems associated with the situation in flooded mines along the contact line on both sides.
